Well, that's University over with. I'm very pleased with my overall mark of a 2.1 and have had a fantastic time learning to use the wide array of toolsets and programs that we did along the way. It's funny though, you never think you're going to miss something till it's gone. The university life, living with four other gamers in a flat all focussed on learning the same material and working together on assignments was fantastic, but has now come to an end. It seems odd that we are now competing in the same market for jobs, as I want all of them to find work in their respective best areas.

I'm living back at home now for the time being as I have some saving to do before I can afford to move out! Student loans are fantastic, as are student overdrafts, until it comes to paying them back! I'm based in Bracknell, Berkshire for the moment and am looking to apply for jobs in the surrounding area including Reading and the Guilford region.

Now that the sad part is over with, incoming happy part! E3! I had fun watching all of the keynotes and watching the extra footage appear on GameTrailers as it was released. We've seen some fantastic things this year spanning from the Official announcement and first play testing of Nintendo's 3DS along with some classic titles getting a revamp for newer hardware. I'm looking forward to seeing how the Wii's updated Goldeneye plays as I was an absolute addict regarding the original title. Sony had a good year, announcing some fun titles to come out and really trying to pioneer the 3D gaming field. I shall watch from the sidelines and wish them luck with that as I don’t currently own a PS3 but also don't have the spare cash to afford a proper 3D television, and I'm not sure they realise that most people are like me in that respect. Having bought a decent size television in recent years, many people are going to be reluctant to part with large amounts of cash simply for 3D functionality. Sony, we'll see how that one goes. Microsoft surprised me this year, really plugging their newly named Kinect hardware and software. I understand that the Wii has had a fabulous time since release, what with demand through the roof and introducing millions of "non-gamers" to the gaming world, but I'm not sure that Kinect is going to do quite as well as Microsoft hope. The titles shown at E3 really didn't excite me as a "hardcore" gamer and for the "casual" market the Wii is a whole lot cheaper than buying a new Xbox with Kinect hardware. Casual gaming communities has proved, by sticking with the Wii, that graphics aren't the most important thing to them, and that seemed to be the one edge that Kinect had over the Wii. I myself am looking forward to getting Kinect merely from a voice command point of view, I've always wanted voice recognition to work as it does in Sci-Fi rather than how it does in real life currently, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed for watching movies in bed while talking to my Xbox rather than finding a controller when I have to pee!

Steam has done it again with their summer sale this year too. I bought Torchlight for a couple of pounds and haven’t been able to put it down. It's a fantastic little dungeon crawler and will surely keep me occupied until Blizzard finally decide that Diablo 3 is ready. Speaking of Blizzard, only 8 days now... 8 days until Starcraft 2 is released! I personally cannot wait, being a huge fan of the first one, still playing it multiplayer today and being involved in the beta testing phase for Starcraft 2 I can safely say that the gameplay doesn't leave anything out from the first game. The combat is fast paced; the unit balance is spot on in the last build I played and the atmosphere while playing a multiplayer game is tense. There are so many strategies to learn and to master, that it really does have a huge lifespan. Blizzard single player games have a reputation, especially their FMV department, for being fantastic and I am sure that SC2 will be no exception. So roll on the 27th of July!

Fairly big read for you guys I know, but hey I haven't posted in a while seeing as the end of Uni was rather busy! Hope you're all doing OK and congratulations to all the other graduates that graduated with me on the 15th of July. Well done to you all!

Edit: Just to let you know, my 2010 showreel is in production now as I have all my finished work from University! SO expect that in the coming weeks! - Richard

Over the last few days I've been hunting for new themes for the site and I think I've found one that sticks! Over the next few days don't be surprised if the site looks a little different, or a little broken. Fingers crossed for no theme migration problems!

Wow... Just wow.

So everything has been handed in. I should have bought shares in Red Bull and Nescafe two months ago; as they are the only reason I was able to manage everything!

Level 3 team project was finished off and overall I'm happy with the direction the project took and its outcomes. It will be posted on here soon for all to peruse; everyone who added their email to the post-artefact survey will be notified. After all the report stuff was sorted out we had a verbal meeting with lecturers (individual basis) regarding our solo contribution to the project. I'm happy with the way I was able to take a project manager role right from the start as I feel that's one of my major strengths. I just thank the group for putting up with some less than favourable deadlines as we were working to a very tight schedule. Time planning isn't easy when you have three full scale, totally separate projects on the go! Big thanks to Luke, Lloyd and Ross for keeping a great work environment with very little conflict! There were some hellishly long meetings though...

Games theory is over with too, including the exam. That was an interesting one as it's always nice to be able to get marks academically for demonstrating your own opinion. The exam had a few probing questions, particularly regarding religion's impact on games design, along with games design’s impact on religion. It was refreshing to be able to debate the East vs. West gaming divide on a solo basis. People tend to get very defensive on this one, almost on a "fan boy" level. The JRPG fans go nuts if you don't agree with everything they say and the WRPG fans just seem to want to pick holes in every argument put forward, so it was nice to be able to debate it myself on paper!

So where do we go from here? First thing was a haircut. I know that sounds trivial, but the last few months have been hectic and I was beginning to look slightly homeless... I would stick a picture up but I'm afraid that no one would employ me as it may pertain to what I would look like during project crunch times! Suffice to say, you'll have to be satisfied with a picture of a clean shaven me. Click at your peril!

Now comes the scary part. Job applications! Here's hoping some people have found my site through StumbleUpon or some of the other places it's posted and are dying to send some work my way! On the off chance that this isn't the case, (i.e. reality!) I'll be sending my details around to several companies in the hope that they will read the site and check out my CV, available from the site main menu.

If anyone feels the need to contact me, for work or for a casual Left4Dead 2 match up, my details are on the site. Drop me a line, I'll reply to all emails as soon as I can.

Richard.

First of all, I have to apologize for the length of time between updates. February to May is rather too long a gap to leave without reason. So it's a good job I've been busier than the proverbial bee.

Where to start... Our Level 3 Team Project is almost complete now, save some report writing and editing. It will be available through the website once it has been handed in and is ready to be published. It's an interesting read though, focussing on personality types and the reasoning for permanent companion selection in an RPG environment. A custom Neverwinter Nights 2 module was made, with its own world narrative setting and 5 custom characters created, each having their own mini encounter. Results are interesting, especially when comparing people’s weekly gaming budget with their end choice. It will be posted in the documentation section of the site in around 3 to 4 weeks.

Alongside this a few of us worked on a Left4Dead 2 scavenge map for a Games Theory module. This was fantastic fun as I've been working with Hammer since the Worldcraft days and I enjoy mapping with it. Navigation meshes were a new thing to me at the start of the project, but I'm comfortable with them now thanks to the variety of tutorials and Valve's amazing developer wiki. So comfortable in fact that after my degree is finished, I shall be working on a full Left4Dead 2 campaign in my spare time. Expect a video and some screenshots of the scavenge level in about 2 weeks time. I shall also be using this blog (possibly a micro blog somewhere else on the site, tbc) to detail the creation of the campaign, so watch this space.

Finally I've been working on some 3D animation in 3D Studio Max. I'm animating a skateboard performing several tricks on different skate architecture objects and splicing it with real world footage in an effort to create a believable game trailer for a game idea named Skate of Mind. This is for a 3D module and the game idea won't be taken further, which is a shame seeing as it's one of my long term goals to be involved in the creation of a successful skateboarding title.

As is the nature of university, gaming time has been severely cut towards the end of my studies, which is a shame, but I have a stack of games waiting to be played once this is over. Also, with Skate 3 having just come out (It's so hard not to stop working for Skate 3, it's just so damn near perfect) and Starcraft 2 (I'm participating in the beta) on the horizon, I think I can wait a few weeks!

Additionally, the prospect of "real life" is a slightly scary, but hugely exciting one. I'm looking forward to getting myself a job in the industry and am already job hunting at the moment. Not sure where I am going to end up right now as the only real visions I have are currently are a little farfetched, but I'll try to stay positive. I've been doing some testing recently for iPlay on a couple of their recent titles and have enjoyed the process. There's nothing like seeing your name in the credits of a released title, no matter the size.

Apologies once again for the time between entries, but as you can see, it's been a rather busy quarter for me! Watch this space!

Hi guys,

I've started myself a Twitter account so people can track progress on the site and be alerted whenever I update some info on here. Feel free to follow me, my username is Knifeh. Follow me at http://twitter.com/Knifeh

This week has been interesting as we are getting well stuck in to projects for our final semester here at Bolton. Games design theory is going to be interesting. We have to take an existing game, identify a bunch of mechanics and "skill atoms" (I'm not sure what that means yet, I have several papers to read!) and then provide a video analysis of these mechanics and atoms. Once this has been done we have to create an artefact in the style of the original with our own ideas in there too. We've decided as a group (4 of us) that we will be analyzing and creating an artefact for Valve's zombie plowathon, Left4Dead 2. It's a recent game on the newest iteration of the Source engine with plenty to analyze and a great toolset available for us to use. We're all familiar with Hammer and the L4D2 SDK has been available since Christmas 2009 so we're all raring to go on this one.

Our other module this semester aside from our team project module as mentioned is Advanced Visualisation Technology, a fancy title for 3d and post production work! I've decided to focus on an area I have a great interest in; skateboarding games. The project involves creating a 2 - 3 minute video for the topic of our choice so I am creating what would be an intro video to a skating game I have come up with called "Skate of Mind." A bunch of branding research has been done along with some preliminary modelling, so I'm looking forward to getting my teeth into the meat of this project too.

It's all go here at the moment!

Regards,

Richard.

It's been a while since a blog update, apologies for that, but we've been getting stuck in to some good Level 3 team project work for our dissertation. Expect video's of the levels and some basic scripting up here on the site when the project has progressed further!

I recently uploaded my show reel to the website and have added it on the front page. I'm pleased with it as it shows some of the work I have been doing, both in a solo and group environment over the past year. YouTube had a bit of a whine about the music licensing, but it seems to be alright. My CV has also been updated as of the 9th of February, so if you have an older copy of it, please download the updated version available at the "CV" link on the top menu.

Gaming wise, Sega are teasing me again as they usually do on a periodic basis. I grew up as a Sonic kid, I shall always be a Sonic kid, but Sega's Sonic releases of late have done nothing but disappoint, with the exception of the day stages in Sonic Unleashed. Sonic 4's announcement had me on the edge of my seat as it's a title many of us have been waiting to play since we were still only allowed an hour a day on the Mega Drive and Friday was sweets day and you only got 50p. Suffice to say, episodic content seems a little bit like milking it to me, what was wrong with the previous format of Sonics first 3 16-bit adventures? Paying 800 Microsoft points for episodes each is going to put off a lot of newer gamers, older ones such as myself will be buying it merely as a loyalty purchase. I've promised myself even if it's bad, I WILL own the entire of Sonic 4.

I'm looking forward to having a bit of spare cash soon so I can buy myself a copy of Bioshock 2. I really enjoyed the first one and from looking over my flatmate's shoulder, the second one looks to be an interesting play, albeit slightly disappointed as I couldn't tell the difference in graphics between titles if there are any. Some of the splicer AI also looked a little odd when interacting with little sisters, but I may just have been too over critical.

We've started a new semester here at Bolton and specifically a new module: Advanced Visualisation Technology. This is an advanced 3d modelling module using 3D Studio Max amongst other editing/compositing tools to create an animation for a game idea or game trailer of our own creation. As I am looking to get into extreme sports gaming in some aspect, I have decided to do some skateboarding animation. The basic idea is a large skate park or city area with different skate obstacles and a skateboard, without rider, performing tricks throughout the area. I still have to come up with some possible branding to use in the animation and do some more preliminary sketches before the idea is finalized, but I'm happy with the progress of the idea so far. Expect to see some imagery in the soon to be added "Work in Progress" section of the website.

That's all for now really folks, if you are reading this, thanks for your time! I'll "see" you again soon.

Richard

Morning Internet!

This past week has been a really busy one, but it's paid off. I'm pretty happy with my scripting work and everything has been handed in now which is a load off my back! There will be a video of the scripting work going up on the site with an example of some of the scripts for people who are into Neverwinter Nights 2 I suppose.

After the 15th, which was crunch day, I've mostly been gaming whilst revising a bit for an exam on the 21st in "Business of Computer Games." Been playing a fair bit of CoD:Modern Warfare 2 with my flatmates and a little bit of EVE on the side.

We're getting stuck back in to our level 3 team project now after the christmas break and it's good to see the teams progress while we've all been away. Most of the level creation has been completed now. This is another project we are running in Neverwinter Nights 2, so the experience gained from Scripting 3 is helping tremendously. If you are interested in our level 3 team project, our communications website is available over at http://www.saturn-design.co.uk.

I'm off to carry on with some preperation for a meeting we have today, the lads are turning up at 1 so I'd better get a move on!

Richard

Well, the site is finished for now. I will keep updating it of course but the main bulk of the content that I want on here is now uploaded. If you have any feedback regarding the site, the "contact me" button is your friend.

Now, possibly an hour or two to play a game! Maybe some more Saboteur or a bit of Mass Effect, either that or some more Neverwinter Nights 2 Scripting!

Richard

Evening! I’m just deciding which articles to go up in my "documentation" section at the moment. Site is coming along nicely although I think I might have to spruce up the home page a little with something, it's looking a little bland at the moment. Also in progress are synopses of the guest lecturer meetings we have had this year. Had some fantastic, relevant information from several different sides of the industry, so look forward to those too!

Still been playing the Saboteur in my "spare time." I'm still enjoying it immensely and will be sad when it's finished as I know with Pandemic gone, the sequel if there is one, just won't be the same! RIP Pandemic studios!

Richard

Well, a little more work got done yesterday. There's only so much time you can stay inside when there's 9 inches of snow on your doorstep though. We decided, due to a lack of any available hills within walking distance, that we'd make our own. So here's me sitting at the top of our freshly constructed (in 3 hours) sledging hill.

Then here's a slightly less composed me, half way across the top of the "jump." Getting air was slightly harder than we thought it would be!

Back to work on the site again today, along with maybe a little gaming later, I still haven't touched Mass Effect and I'm itching to get my hands on it as everyone has told me it's a MUST play.